Unusual position for Tigers

STOCKTON - After trudging through some deep valleys in the past four years, the Pacific women's basketball team finds itself in new position as it prepares for its final foray through the Big West Conference.

STOCKTON - After trudging through some deep valleys in the past four years, the Pacific women's basketball team finds itself in new position as it prepares for its final foray through the Big West Conference.

The Tigers (10-2) have emerged from the first two months of the season as the favorites for the Big West crown as they host UC Davis in the conference opener at 4 p.m. today. Pacific's only losses have come to Florida and Stanford, and that is three fewer than anyone else in the Big West.

"UOP had a tremendous nonconference season and they're the favorite coming in and they're deserving of that," UC Davis coach Jennifer Gross said. "I'd say they're the team to beat, but there are a lot of other good teams."

There is an opening at the top of the conference with defending champion Cal Poly rebuilding after losing two-time conference player of the year Kristina Santiago to graduation.

Pacific coach Lynne Roberts said she's intent on not letting outside expectations weigh on the team and wants her players to retain the attitude that has served them so well the past two months.

"Our team has really done the cliché thing of taking it one game at a time in the preseason, and I want that same mentality in conference as well," Roberts said.

"I like where we are now, and we'll see where we will be in March."

Reaching the NCAA Tournament has been Pacific's stated goal since training camp, and senior captain Kendall Rodriguez said the team's success has just bolstered everyone's confidence. Rodriguez and senior guard Erica McKenzie have been starters since their freshmen seasons and have helped the Tigers improve from 6-23 in 2009-10, to 9-22 in 2010-11, to 18-14 last season, which included a second round WNIT appearance.

"We really want to end this year with a bang," Rodriguez said. "We've waited four years to have a team this good and we want to take full advantage of it. There is some added pressure because we have done so well, but it doesn't change how we're going to play."

Pacific will face plenty of tough competition, including Long Beach State (8-5, 1-0), which had nonconference wins over Pac-12 foes Washington and Arizona, and Cal State Northridge (7-5, 1-0), which finished second behind Cal Poly last season and has wins over Santa Clara and UCLA this season. Newcomer Hawaii (4-8, 0-1) has been tested by a brutal nonconference schedule that included losses to Stanford, Baylor, Oklahoma and Alabama and should be a contender.

Gross and Cal State Fullerton coach Marcia Foster are hopeful their young teams can develop as the season progresses and make a run in March.

"This is a new season," Foster said. "Everything else you do prepares you for this."